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Oregon safety Avery Patterson out for year with torn ACL

Avery Patterson will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL (Otto Gruele Jr, Getty Images)

Things just got a little tougher for the #2 college football team in the country.

The Portland Oregonian reports that Oregon Ducks safety Avery Patterson will play not further part this season due to a torn ACL. Patterson injured his knee in the second quarters of the Ducks' 59-17 win over Cal on Saturday. The loss is yet another big one for Oregon's defense - the team has already been playing this year without safety John Boyett after the defensive leader underwent season-ending surgery in September, and there have been numerous other injuries throughout the defensive lineup.

Patterson has three interceptions this year, two of which were returned for touchdowns. He has 44 tackles on the year, good for fourth on the squad.